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Sam Bobrick

Sam Bobrick (July 24, 1932 – October 11, 2019) was an American television writer, playwright, and songwriter renowned for creating the iconic teen sitcom , which aired from 1989 to 1993 and became a cultural staple through its syndication and spin-offs. Born in , , Bobrick initially pursued in but shifted to after serving in the U.S. from 1951 to 1955, eventually earning a degree from the University of . His career began in the mailroom before transitioning to writing, where he contributed to early television programs such as and , and later penned episodes for acclaimed series including , , , and . As a songwriter, he co-wrote the hit "The Girl of My Best Friend" in 1960. Bobrick's playwriting career was equally prolific, authoring over 40 plays, with notable works like Norman, Is That You? (1970, co-written with Ron Clark), which became the first comedy to openly address despite its initial commercial failure, and later successes including Murder at the and . He also contributed uncredited revisions to the musical in the 1970s. Married twice—first for 26 years and then to Julie Bobrick for 28 years—he was the father of three children and had several grandchildren; he retired from television in 1992 at age 60 but continued writing plays until his death from a at Northridge Medical Center in .

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Samuel Bobrick was born on July 24, 1932, in , , to a Jewish family. His parents were Jack Bobrick, who owned an Army surplus store, and Minnette (née Marcus) Bobrick, a postal worker. Bobrick grew up in a working-class environment marked by frequent family disruptions, including an anti-Semitic attack on him in grade school as well as his parents often fighting and separating, leading him to spend much of his young life on his grandparents' farm in . These experiences exposed him early to humor and storytelling through quirky relatives, such as an uncle prone to punching people in fits of anger and another who once brought home a dog—dynamics that later inspired comedic elements in his writing. Childhood escapades, including attempts at seed-selling scams, further shaped his appreciation for the absurd and relatable in everyday life. He completed his secondary education at Benton Harbor High School, graduating in 1950, before attempting junior college.

Military service and higher education

Following his brief attempt at junior college studying accounting, which he found unappealing, Bobrick enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951, serving until 1955 for a total of three years, nine months, and 23 days. Initially assigned to the accounting department, he was soon reassigned to manage the library at a remote base in Ohio, where the isolation and routine allowed him to explore creative outlets. There, he launched his writing endeavors by editing and single-handedly producing The Tribe Scribe, a bi-monthly base newspaper featuring jokes, gossip, and satirical editorials that honed his comedic voice and marked the beginning of his professional writing interests. After his discharge, Bobrick attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating in 1956 with a degree in . This formal training equipped him with essential skills in storytelling, reporting, and concise communication, directly fueling his ambitions to transition from military humor to broader entertainment writing. The program's emphasis on clear, engaging prose aligned with his emerging aspirations, prompting him to relocate to immediately after graduation to pursue opportunities in songwriting and beyond.

Professional career

Television writing and production

Sam Bobrick began his television career in the late after starting in the mailroom, where his writing talent led to his first credit as a gag writer on Washington Square. He soon transitioned to full-time writing, contributing scripts to children's programming such as , which helped establish his reputation in light comedy. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Bobrick became a prolific writer for landmark sitcoms, delivering episodes that emphasized character-driven humor and ensemble dynamics. His credits included The Joey Bishop Show, The Andy Griffith Show (for which he won a Writers Guild of America Award for the episode "The Shoplifters"), Get Smart (earning another WGA Award for "Viva Smart"), Bewitched, The Flintstones, and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He also wrote for variety formats, partnering with Ron Clark on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and specials like Alan King's Wonderful World of Comedy (securing his third WGA Award). These contributions highlighted Bobrick's skill in blending witty dialogue with relatable scenarios, influencing the sitcom genre's focus on everyday absurdities. In the 1980s, Bobrick shifted toward creation and production, developing for the in 1987, a teen centered on a widowed () navigating life lessons with her students in . The series aired 13 episodes from 1988 to 1989 but struggled in syndication, prompting to acquire and retool it under Bobrick's guidance and executive producer . Relocated to and recast with younger actors like and (replacing original students), it premiered as in 1989, running for four seasons until 1993 and spawning spin-offs. The show earned Bobrick two nominations for episodes in 1993 and 1994. Bobrick's television output earned him three Writers Guild Awards overall, recognizing his impact on episodic through precise, humorous storytelling that resonated with broad audiences. In 1992, after decades in the medium, he chose to leave TV writing to pursue playwriting full-time, citing a desire for the creative control of theater. His work helped shape the evolution of family-oriented sitcoms, prioritizing ensemble casts and moral undertones amid comedic situations.

Playwriting and theater

Sam Bobrick authored and co-authored over 40 plays, many of which have been produced worldwide and published by Samuel French. His theatrical career began with the comedy Norman, Is That You?, co-written with Ron Clark, which premiered on at the Lyceum Theatre on February 19, 1970, directed by and starring and . Although the production closed after 29 performances on April 26, 1970, it achieved international success, including a five-year run in . Bobrick's subsequent collaborations with Clark included No Hard Feelings, which opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld) on April 8, 1973, directed by Abe Burrows and featuring Nanette Fabray, Eddie Albert, and Stockard Channing in her Broadway debut. The play, a comedy exploring marital discord and infidelity, ran for 80 performances before closing. Similarly, Murder at the Howard Johnson's, another farcical take on a love triangle involving multiple murder attempts, debuted at the John Golden Theatre on May 17, 1979, but managed only four performances. Their final Broadway effort, Wally's Cafe, a nostalgic comedy spanning decades of friendship and loss among three characters, opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on June 12, 1981, starring James Coco, Rita Moreno, and Sally Struthers, and closed after 10 performances on June 21. Despite these short Broadway runs, the plays found longer lives in regional theaters, off-Broadway venues, and international productions, with Norman, Is That You? inspiring a 1976 film adaptation. Later solo works further demonstrated Bobrick's range, including Remember Me?, a romantic comedy about a long-married couple rediscovering their spark after 27 years, which premiered at the New Theatre in Overland Park, Kansas, in 2000 under director Richard Carrothers and has since seen numerous regional stagings. His mystery-comedy The Psychic, centering on a struggling writer posing as a fortune-teller amid chaotic revelations, debuted at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank, California, on March 26, 2010, and earned the 2011 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Play from the Mystery Writers of America. Bobrick's plays often blended humor with explorations of family dynamics, such as parental acceptance in Norman, Is That You?, marital tensions in No Hard Feelings and Remember Me?, and interpersonal betrayals in Murder at the Howard Johnson's, while touching on social issues like identity, aging, and relationships in works like Wally's Cafe. His background in television writing contributed to the sharp comedic timing evident in these stage works. In the early 1990s, Bobrick transitioned to full-time playwriting, retiring from television at age 60 to focus exclusively on theater, a shift that allowed him to produce prolifically until his later years. Many of his plays continued to receive regional and international productions, including adaptations in and , underscoring their enduring appeal in community and professional theaters.

Songwriting and other contributions

Sam Bobrick began his career as a songwriter in the late 1950s, joining the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1960. His early songwriting efforts intersected with his transition into television writing, providing a creative foundation before he focused primarily on scripts for shows like and . As a , Bobrick collaborated with composers such as Beverly Ross and Norman Blagman, contributing to pop and rock recordings that gained commercial traction. One of Bobrick's most notable compositions was "The Girl of My Best Friend," co-written with Beverly Ross in 1959 and first recorded by Charlie Blackwell that year. The song achieved widespread recognition through Elvis Presley's cover, recorded on April 3, 1960, and released on the album Elvis Is Back! later that year, marking a key early success in Bobrick's musical catalog. Another significant work, "It'll Never Be Over for Me," co-written with Norman Blagman, was originally recorded by in 1964 and later covered by artists including and , showcasing Bobrick's versatility in crafting enduring ballads for diverse performers. Additional compositions, such as "Did You Ever Love Someone?" and "It's a Gas!" (a satirical piece with Blagman), further highlighted his range across romantic and humorous genres. Beyond songwriting, Bobrick contributed to satirical music projects, producing and writing for three Mad Magazine record albums in the 1960s, including Mad Twists Rock 'n' Roll (1962) and Fink Along with Mad (1963), which parodied popular hits and featured novelty performances. In fiction writing, he adapted his play Flemming (An American Thriller) into a novel, which earned a writing award at the 2008 International Mystery Writers Festival for its thriller elements. Bobrick's mystery writing prowess was recognized with the 2011 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Play, awarded to The Psychic for its innovative blend of comedic and suspenseful narrative techniques.

Personal life and death

Marriages and family

Bobrick's first marriage was to Jeanne Johnson in 1963, a union that lasted 27 years until their divorce in 1990. During this time, the couple collaborated professionally as a husband-and-wife writing team, co-authoring plays including Weekend Comedy. In 2000, Bobrick married Julie Stein, a fellow with whom he co-authored several plays; this partnership endured until his death. Bobrick was the father of three children from his first marriage: daughters Lori Donner and Stefanie Bobrick Owen, and son Joey Bobrick. He had two grandchildren, and . His family responsibilities shaped his career trajectory, as he balanced raising his children by maintaining steady work to support playwriting pursuits; following the and his children's independence in the early 1990s, he shifted his primary focus to theater.

Illness and death

In early October 2019, Sam Bobrick suffered a massive that led to his hospitalization. He passed away on October 11, 2019, at the age of 87, at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in , , two days after the stroke. Bobrick's daughter, Stefanie Bobrick, announced his death on , stating that he "passed away on October 11, 2019, surrounded by family and friends." His wife, Julie Bobrick, confirmed to media outlets that he died in the hospital shortly after the stroke, noting the support of his long-term marriage during his final days. Friend and colleague Adam Carl, a and , shared a personal remembrance, describing Bobrick's recent health decline and praising his enduring humor and contributions to television and theater. Immediate tributes from industry peers emphasized Bobrick's legacy as the creator of and a prolific , with outlets like and highlighting his influence on family-friendly sitcoms and stage works without delving into full career retrospectives. No public details on a or memorial service were reported.

References

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